Best Way to Watch TV 8/24/12

Published On: Aug 24 2012 12:50:12 PM CDT

Lynn Samaha used to rent movies from a local store, but she never managed to return them on time. Lynn Samaha "I was getting killed with late fees, just a whole back and forth. Netflix has simplified my life tremendously." In fact, Netflix is by far the most used video-streaming service in a recent poll of Consumer Reports online readers. More than 80 percent of those who streamed video had used Netflix in the previous month. But while users liked the convenience of Netflix, Consumer Reports' Jim Willcox says many of those polled were not satisfied with the service overall. "The selection of movies is a real problem for Netflix, especially with newer releases. And people that we polled have said that that's also true of other subscription services, like Amazon Prime or Hulu Plus." For a better selection, those surveyed preferred pay-per-view services that charge for each title. The best of the bunch - Vudu, iTunes, and Amazon Instant Video. Jim Willcox "But pay-per-view can get expensive. New movies cost about four or five dollars each to watch, and that can really add up if you're a family that watches a lot of movies each month." For free content, Hulu-dot-com was a hit. TV Show "Jack, you remember my granddaughter?" It lets you stream TV shows as well as movies - but only on a computer. Jim Willcox "If you want to watch on your TV or a tablet, you'll need a Hulu Plus subscription, which costs about eight dollars a month - the same as Netflix." Interestingly, though, Consumer Reports found plenty of people still prefer to rent discs. Netflix was one of the best for selection. And for low prices, the Redbox video kiosks were a favorite. ."

Copyright 2012 by WKBT News8000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.